Evaluation of Readmissions in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients R. Moya, I. Espigado, R. Parody, M. Carmona, F. Márquez, and J.M. De Blas ABSTRACT Background. There is a lack of information on health expenses caused by readmissions among hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. We analyzed the rate, causes, and evolution of hospitalization after HSCT. Methods. We retrospectively studied 140 consecutive patients who received an autolo- gous HSCT (n = 107; 76.4%) or an allogeneic HSCT (n = 33; 23.6%) in our institution from May 2001 through September 2004. Results. There were 45 readmissions in 28 patients (20%): three (10%) in the autologous and 25 (90%), in the allogeneic HSCT cohorts. The overall median age was 35.3  13.5 years and 54% were women. Hematologic diseases were: multiple myeloma (n = 1, 4%), myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 2, 7%), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 2, 7%), aplastic anemia (n = 2, 7%), chronic myeloid leukemia (n = 3, 11%), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (n = 4, 14%), Hodgkin’s disease (n = 4, 14%) and acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (n = 10, 38%). The length of stay for each readmission was 25  21 days. The median day of readmission was +62.5 (range =+19 to +987); however, 75% occurred between days +30 and +70. The causes of hospitalization were: infections (n = 24, 54%), due to the graft (n = 14, 31%), graft failure (n = 4, 9%), coagulation disorders (n = 2, 4%), and second neoplasm (n = 1, 2%). Mortality due to the transplant was 10 patients (14%) including: graft-versus-host disease (n = 3), sepsis (n = 3), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (n = 1), and relapse (n = 3). Conclusions. Although there was a frequent use of hospital resources (20%) after HSCT with patients hospitalized for a median of 25 days, it was beneficial since there were 86% survivors at 36 months follow-up. H ematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) consists of the infusion of elements from a donor into a patient who has received radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. In- creasingly, HSCT has been used to treat neoplastic diseases, hematologic disorders, immunodeficiency syndromes, con- genital enzyme deficiencies, or autoimmune disorders. 1–4 Moreover, HSCT has become standard treatment for se- lected conditions. 1,5,6 Today, as a result of changes in the care of patients undergoing HSCT and pressure regarding health care costs, transplants or parts of the transplant process, such as the conditioning phase or posttransplant follow-up, may be performed in the outpatient setting. 7 However, patients with certain complications need to be hospitalized. There is a lack of information concerning health care expenses caused by readmissions among HSCT recipients. 8 –12 The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the hospitalization rate, causes, and evolution of readmission episodes for adult patients undergoing HSCT. PATIENTS AND METHODS We undertook a descriptive-retrospective study of a cohort of 140 consecutive adult patients who received an HSCT in our institution from May 2001 through September 2004. The variables included gender, age, diagnosis, remission status at transplant, type of transplant, presence of comorbid or concurrent conditions, number From the Servicio de Hematologı´a y Hemoterapia, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocı´o, Sevilla, Spain. Address reprint requests to Ruth M a Moya Rodrı´guez, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocı´o, Servicio de Hematologı´a y He- moterapia, Edificios de Laboratorios, Av Manuel Siurot, 41013 Sevilla, Spain. E-mail: ruth_hematol@yahoo.es © 2006 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 0041-1345/06/$–see front matter 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710 doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2006.08.057 Transplantation Proceedings, 38, 2591–2592 (2006) 2591